Chandigarh, April 2 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday restrained the Haryana government from felling trees without court's permission. The high court bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry said this while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) against felling of nearly 5,000 trees for Zirakpur bypass project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), connecting Zirakpur in Punjab to a toll plaza on Chandigarh- Shimla highway in Haryana in Chandigarh's neighborhood. Multiple lawyers confirmed the development. However, a detailed order is awaited. "The matter was heard on Wednesday by the chief justice's bench, which stayed the felling of trees in the present matter (highway construction). The court has further restrained the felling of trees anywhere in Haryana without prior permission of the court," said senior advocate Anand Chhibbar after the hearing. On December 24, 2025, the high court had expressed its serious concerns over the depleting green cover in Punjab and stayed the felling of trees for projects and other activities, an order modified from time-to-time for different agencies. Chhibbar said this is a significant environmental protection order, which threatens large-scale destruction of the tricity ecological zone, including Panchkula's principal green lung areas. The project involves diversion of about 17.57 hectares of forest land and felling of over 5,000 mature trees, including tree cover in the Panchkula Golf Course, Sector-1A green belt, and adjoining forested stretches along the Ghaggar river corridor, he added. During the hearing, he had pointed out that as per the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023), Punjab possesses only 3.67% forest and tree cover, and Haryana merely 3.65%, both drastically below the national average of 21.71% and far below the 33% benchmark envisaged under the National Forest Policy, 1988. Panchkula's tree cover, highest in Haryana is at 44% and that is what is to be cut for this project, he added. He had also alleged that alternative routes were not explored by the NHAI before the agency zeroed in on the present one involving cutting of 5,000 trees. He also questioned why compensatory afforestation was being carried out in Ferozepur, 300 kms away from Chandigarh. During the hearing, the NHAI counsel had submitted that it was an important project to decongest Chandigarh and was part of a larger plan to reduce congestion and pollution. It was also pointed out that compensatory plantation is being done in Ferozepur since there is no public land available in the vicinity, which is to be provided by Punjab. Many alternative routes were also discussed but found technically unfeasible, it was informed. The court observed that land for compensatory plantation should have been provided in the same area from where trees are being cut and sought to clarify by adjourned date as to why the same is not being provided. It also sought documents from the NHAI by April 17 which establishes that engineers applied their mind on alternative routes also before the present one was finalised. The six-lane stretch, spanning nearly 19.2 km, will start at the Patiala-Zirakpur light point on NH-7 and terminate at the old Panchkula light point on NH-5, helping the Shimla-bound traffic completely avoid the Zirakpur bottleneck. Similarly, traffic from Shimla heading towards Ambala or Delhi will also be able to bypass Zirakpur. Being planned since 2013, the new bypass will also serve as an alternative route from Panchkula to the Mohali international airport terminal, helping the commuters avoid Chandigarh altogether. This, in turn, will reduce burden on Chandigarh's major roads like Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg, claim government agencies. The ring road project is estimated to cost Rs.1,878 crore, with construction expected to start by September and completion expected within two years....